Walking Spirit in a Native Way

  JITHU | INFLUENCER     Book Review: Walking Spirit in a Native Way: White Mocs on the Red Road by James B. Beard     Walking Spirit in a Native Way: White Mocs on the Red Road by James B. Beard is a profound and moving exploration of spirituality, identity, and transformation. It is more than a personal story—it is a reflection on what it means to live in harmony with nature, spirit, and oneself. Through his journey, Beard, known by his Native name Noodin, invites readers into a world shaped by the teachings of the Ojibwe people and guided by the wisdom of his mentor, Misho, an elder whose insight and patience illuminate every page.     The narrative begins with a deceptively simple exchange. When Misho asks Noodin, “Who are you,” and Noodin replies, “I am just a man,” it marks the beginning of a lifelong spiritual awakening. From that moment, Beard begins to see life through a different lens—one that values humility, reflection, and the understand...

October 28, 2025 by blogespresso Walking Spirit in a Native Way 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Walking Spirit in a Native Way: White Mocs on the Red Road 📚 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: James B. Beard ✍️ . . “Walking Spirit in a Native Way: White Mocs on the Red Road” by James B. Beard is a truly unique and insightful read. Through the voice of James, also known as Noodin, the author shares his transformative spiritual journey under the guidance of an elder from the Ojibwe tribe. In this book, Noodin recounts his years of learning from Misho, a wise Native elder. During one of their early conversations, Misho asked him, “Who are you?” to which Noodin replied, “I am just a man.” This simple yet profound exchange sparked deep introspection in Noodin, setting him on a path of self-discovery and spiritual growth. As he reflects on his life, Noodin shares how his faith in Christianity began to waver, leading him toward a more spiritual path. Under Misho’s mentorship, he embraced teaching...

A man named John By James B Beard Cultural Speaker, Author October 22, 2025    I first met John at a gathering to listen to an Ojibwe Elder speak in Massachusetts back in 1994. He and his wife, Rhona, had been attending with a small group of people to hear the teachings of this Elder and to study those teachings. It was my first time at this gathering. John was a very quiet man and one would ...

The Carriage Barn     The barn on this property was built in 1851. It was a part of a twenty-thousand-acre farm that was the largest farm in New England at that time and, as far as I know, ever since. Adjacent to it, where my cabin now sits, was a caretakers house. The house had five large bedrooms to house workers from the city while working at the farm. This barn was called the carriage barn.         There are six large bays in the barn.        The back of the barn needs a lot of work. It faces south east and catches a lot of Sun. The stick structure in the picture is a sweat-lodge we use for ceremonies.       The north side shingles are in pretty good shape but need to be bleached and coated. Most of the windows in the barn were broken when I took over the property. I replaced all the glass and white washed all the windows when I first moved in.         This ...

James Beard aka Noodin                Cultural Storyteller, Educator, Speaker,                Author Walking Spirit in a Native Way James Beard is a speaker on topics such as traditional living and natural spirit teachings. His topics address many concerns to do with wellness and balance in life. He is a student of native teachings from Ojib...